Speaker Abbas Stresses Strengthening Of security agencies to tackle insecurity

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, has stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to effectively respond to the complex and ever-evolving security challenges of the country.

He said that the 10th House will continue to support the efforts of security agencies and actors through adequate funding, provision of modern equipment, ramping up training, and improving the welfare packages for security personnel.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day post inauguration retreat for members of the House Committee on Defence, he advocated the need for a comprehensive approach to national security.

Such approach, he said, considers the interconnected nature of the underlying issues that fuel and sustain insecurity.

Hon Abbas also said it should involve a coordinated effort between the executive, legislature, and judiciary and with other stakeholders such as civil society organizations, the private sector, and the international community.

The Speaker said as legislators, they have a critical role in ensuring that the necessary legislative frameworks are in place to support the national security architecture.

This, he said, includes enacting robust legislations that addresses the root causes of the insecurity.

He said capacity strengthening for legislative committees on security and defense is crucial to maintaining robust oversight and governance within the security sector.

The speaker said committees play a vital role in conducting oversight and holding the security sector’s leadership accountable.

“As we all know, the security of our nation is a collective responsibility, and the legislative arm of government has a critical role to play in ensuring that our armed forces and the police are well-equipped and adequately funded to tackle the multiple security challenges facing our country; ranging from terrorism and insurgency, herder-farmer conflicts, oil theft and unrest in the Niger Delta and separatist agitations in the South East. 

“These challenges have brought to the fore the need for a robust national security architecture that can effectively address these challenges. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of socio-economic policies, effective governance, and community engagement,” he said.

The Speaker urged the lawmakers to make the best use of the retreat to engage with experts, share ideas and ask critical questions that will improve their understanding of the defence sector for proper oversight.

“I am confident that with the support of the National Defence College and the collective efforts of all stakeholders, we can create a functional understanding of Nigeria’s national security architecture and higher management of defence-related issues and build a more secure and prosperous future for our country.

“The Legislative Agenda of the House, which I unveiled on Tuesday, 14th November 2023, highlights security and states our commitment to adopting legislative measures to improve national security. In furtherance of this commitment, the House is set to commence Sectoral Debates today at its Plenary. The maiden edition of the Debates will be on security. All service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police have been invited to appear before the House to brief Members on their respective agencies’ overall state of affairs. The purpose of this is to enable us to understand the progress made so far as well as the challenges requiring legislative intervention,” he said.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence Hon. Babajimi Benson, said the retreat was designed to equip members with the necessary tools in the performance of their legislative duties in the defence sector.

He said it could not have come at a better time considering the security challenges facing the country.

“I want to reiterate my assurance to Nigerians that we are determined to carry out our legislative functions effectively, efficiently and in a manner that will ensure the safety of their lives and property. Consequently, I have sponsored several bills aimed at revolutionizing the Nigerians defence sector.

“Suffice to say that several other Members have also sponsored relevant bills all aimed and supporting the Armed Forces to perform better. Some of the bills have already been assented to by Mr. President,” Hon Benson said.

He noted that the Committee shall be examining defence sector funding in the face of dwindling resources and proffer likely solutions that will ensure that this critical sector does not suffer from under-funding.

“Let me express my profound gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff and all the Service Chiefs for accepting to be part of this event and to share their experiences on topical issues with us. As our “partners” in nation building, we know that our legislative work is incomplete without you. I am particularly appreciative of the commitment by the National Defence College (NDC) towards developing the capacity of the committee to efficiently carry out its mandate,” he added.